Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Culture. Show all posts

Sunday, September 25, 2011

POETRY PICNIC WK 6 : Stories from Mythology, Culture and of life


Hello, Friends, This is Shashi, the host for the Sixth week of creativity and enjoyment at 

The Gooseberry Garden for Poetry Picnic Week 6.

Last week's poetry picnic was great  because the topic got powerful verses.. from the incredible community of poets such as YOU here. Thank YOU very much.

This week is going to be very interesting as we are going to touch upon some lovely stories from ‘Mythology, Culture and of life’ where you are could share your own stories inspired by mythology or your own thoughts or stories from life, that has touched you deeply...

But before that let me tell you what we are going to do next week...

Next week we are going talk about “Love and Loss” whispering our own feelings... deeply seated within our self and give it a chance to come out in the open and see how it feels to live it... or let it go.

Now coming back to our topic this week ....

POETRY PICNIC WK 6 : Stories from Mythology, Culture and of life

Birth of Venus - Painting by Botticelli c. 1486
The English imagination was fired by Greek mythology starting with Chaucer and John Milton and continuing through Shakespeare to Robert Bridges in the 20th century. Racine in France and Goethe in Germany revived Greek drama, reworking the ancient myths.  Although during the Enlightenment of the 18th century reaction against Greek myth spread throughout Europe, the myths continued to provide an important source of raw material for dramatists, including those who wrote the libretti for many of Handel's and Mozart's operas. By the end of the 18th century, Romanticism initiated a surge of enthusiasm for all things Greek, including Greek mythology. In Britain, new translations of Greek tragedies and Homer inspired contemporary poets (such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Keats, Byron and Shelley) and painters (such as Lord Leighton and Lawrence Alma-Tadema) Christoph Gluck, Richard Strauss, Jacques Offenbach and many others set Greek mythological themes to music.

In a very broad sense, the word mythology can refer to any traditional story so I am going to share one beautiful story...


Birth of Athena (Greek)
Zeus came to lust after Metis and chased her in his direct way. Metis tried to escape, going so far as to change her form many times by turning into various creatures, such as hawks, fish, and serpents. However, Zeus was both determined and equally proficient in changing form. He continued his pursuit until she relented.

An Oracle of Gaea then prophesied that Metis' first child would be a girl, but her second child would be a boy that would overthrow Zeus as had happened to his father and grandfather. Zeus took this warning to heart. When he next saw Metis, he flattered her and put her at her ease. Then, with Metis off guard Zeus, suddenly opened his mouth and swallowed her. This was the end of Metis, but possibly the beginning of Zeus' wisdom.

After a time Zeus developed the mother of all headaches. He howled so loudly it could be heard throughout the earth. The other gods came to see what the problem was. Hermes realized what needed to be done and directed Hephaestus to take a wedge and split open Zeus's skull. Out of the skull sprang Athena, full grown and in a full set of armour. Due to her manner of birth, Athena has dominion over all things of the intellect.

Image and Text Source - Wikipedia

Thanks for joining us to support poetry, poetry promotion, and poetry sharing here at The Gooseberry Garden Monday Poetry Potluck!!!

How To submit your poetry?

Add your entry via InLinkz below by clicking on the blue button, and leave a comment in case it is your first time! It would be great if you could link back to us on your blog.

Weekly poetry collection starts on Sunday, 8pm (CDT), and will stay open till Thursday, 8pm (CDT), 96 hours for you to share your poetry with us...



Please share your talent, comment below to let us know you are here or report any problems you have, and read some very talented artists! Have Fun! 
______
Shashi 
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya